&#34;TAC-PAC&#34; small component storage system

ABSTRACT

The invention specifically is a storage device system to orderly, safely and predictably house small items. The device more specifically would place the items into predetermined compartments where they would be readily accessible and protected from the outside elements such as dirt and moisture. The invention would cushion the items and provide sound deadening capabilities by virtue of the design and material selection. In the venues of law enforcement, military operations, and competitive shooting sports, there are needs to carry spare batteries for the different tactical equipment required to carry out a certain mission. The batteries required are sometimes of a differing voltage and size specification such as but not limited to AA, N, 1/3N, CR123. Some of the equipment, such as tactical high powered equipment and flashlights, are of such a high intensity that the batteries only last a short period. In situations that might require the use of these flashlights, often times the batteries will drain and the old ones need to be quickly replaced with fresh ones. Not being able to find spare batteries quickly or to have the correct size and voltage batteries that are known to be fresh, can be a dangerous situation. The invention addresses these problems of storing different sized components in an orderly, predictable, and safe manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to a storage device system to orderlyand predictably house small items. The device more specifically wouldplace the items into predetermined compartments where they would bereadily accessible and protected from the outside elements such as dirtand moisture. The invention would cushion the items and provide sounddeadening capabilities by virtue of the design and material selection.

In the venues of law enforcement, military operations, and competitiveshooting sports, there are needs to carry spare batteries for thedifferent tactical equipment required to carry out a certain mission.The batteries required are sometimes of a differing voltage and sizespecification such as but not limited to AA, N, 1/3N, CR123. Some of theequipment, such as tactical high powered equipment and flashlights, areof such a high intensity that the batteries only last a short period. Insituations that might require the use of these flashlights, often timesthe batteries will drain and the old ones need to be quickly replacedwith fresh ones. Not being able to find spare batteries quickly or tohave the correct size and voltage batteries that are known to be fresh,can be a dangerous situation. The invention addresses this problem.

In PRIOR ART, some of the methods of storing these batteries was to keepthem in pockets in the clothing. Another method of storing the batteriesmight be to place them into plastic storage bags and place them inpockets. Some have wrapped the batteries with tape and stored themtogether. In PRIOR ART the methods of storing the batteries so they werereadily available, predictable in their location, and protected fromdamage and outside elements has shortcomings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is comprised of a shaped housing, FIG. 1A, that issomewhat rectangular and flat with one side open. The open side of thehousing will accept an insert that is shaped to closely fit the insidedimensions of the housing. The insert, FIG. 1 B, is shaped or cut toaccommodate placing the batteries into the insert cavities with a slightfriction fit between the batteries and the insert. Once the batteriesare in place in the insert that is already in the housing, there isplaced a flexible lid, FIG. 1 C, onto the housing that seals thebatteries in the insert and closes the housing, batteries, and insert tothe outside elements. This assembled unit is then placed into a pouch,FIG. 3 A that can be carried on the person, more specifically on thepersons belt or just placed into a backpack or other carrying device.The assembled unit can also be used without a pouch if desired andstored accordingly.

The invention will store the batteries in a clean and dry environment.The invention will keep the battery terminals from contacting objectsand causing them to discharge or potentially to generate damaging heator even fire. The invention is part of a system whereby the storagedevice is placed into a pouch and can be attached to a belt or tacticalgarment and be readily available and predictable as to its location. Theinvention has the flexibility in the design to have multiple changeableconfigurations, FIG. 3A, of the inner compartment to accommodatedifferent battery shapes and sizes. The invention allows the operator toconfigure the shape of supplied blank inserts to suit the needs of theoperator. The invention will store and protect small parts other thanbatteries that will fit into the size parameters described by the mainhousing shape by virtue of the defined configured and interchangeableshape of the interior of the blank insert. FIG. 3A

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 D shows an assembled unit

FIG. 1 A shows the rigid formed housing

FIG. 1 B shows a changeable shaped insert

FIG. 1 C shows the flexible lid

FIG. 2 F shows an assembled unit

FIG. 2 A shows the rigid formed housing

FIG. 2 B shows a shaped insert different shaped cavities

FIG. 2 C shows a shaped insert with similar cavities

FIG. 2 D shows a blank insert

FIG. 2 E shows a flexible lid

FIG. 3 A shows a flexible lid

FIG. 3 B shows the rigid formed housing with a shaped insert in place

FIG. 3 C shows the rigid formed housing with a shaped insert in place

FIG. 3 D shows an assembled unit

FIG. 4 A shows a flexible lid

FIG. 4 B shows the rigid formed housing with a shaped insert in placeand batteries in place in the formed insert.

FIG. 4 C shows the rigid formed housing with a shaped insert in placeand batteries in place in the formed insert

FIG. 4 D shows an assembled unit with batteries in place in the shapedinsert and the flexible lid applied to the formed housing.

FIG. 5 shows a cross section of the assembled unit and how the batteriesare located.

Detail A FIG. 5 shows how the flexible lid is applied to the rigidhousing.

FIG. 6 A Shows an assembled unit

FIG. 6 B shows a nylon pouch for storing the assembled unit andattaching it to a belt or other gear.

FIG. 7 shows a photograph of the components to assemble a completesystem.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings in general, the drawings are to describe thepreferred embodiment of the invention and not meant to limit the scopeof the invention.

As best shown in FIG. 1A, the invention is comprised of a rigid formedhousing Designed to withstand impact and maintain its rigid shape. Theinvention utilizes a changeable shaped insert, FIG. 1B, that is placedinto the rigid formed housing. This assembling of the Rigid formedhousing, FIG. 1 A, with the changeable shaped insert FIG. 1 B, providesa means of accepting small components with similar shapes to theinterior shapes of the changeable shaped insert. The rigid formedhousing is designed to accept a closely fitted changeable insert whoseexterior perimeter is designed to closely match the interior cavity ofthe formed housing and providing a closely matching fit. Once thechangeable shaped insert is placed into the rigid formed housing, theflexible lid is stretched over the rigid formed housing to form asealing component.

In its preferred embodiment, the invention would be composed of a rigidformed housing FIG. 2A. The invention would be designed to have the arigid formed housing with interior walls that would be shaped to accepta mating shaped insert.

In its preferred embodiment, the invention would have a shaped insertthat would have an exterior shape that would closely match the interiorof the rigid formed housing, FIG. 2 D.

In its preferred embodiment, the shaped insert would have an exteriorshape that would closely match the interior of the rigid formed housingand a changeable interior shape. FIG. 2 B

In its preferred embodiment, the shaped insert would have an exteriorshape that would closely match the interior of the rigid formed housingand a changeable interior shape. FIG. 2 C

In its preferred embodiment, the shaped insert would have an exteriorshape that would closely match the interior of the rigid formed housingand have no predetermined interior shape and thus be blank.

In its preferred embodiment, the shaped insert would have an exteriorshape that would closely match the interior of the rigid formed housingand have no predetermined interior shape and could be configured by theuser to accept the desired component shape to be stored in the insert.FIG. 2 D

In its preferred embodiment, a blank shaped insert FIG. 2 D, could beconfigured, but not limited to, an insert similar to the shaped insertsFIG. 2 B and FIG. 2 C.

In its preferred embodiment, the rigid formed housing with a shapedinsert in place inside the housing FIGS. 3 B and 3 C, would have aflexible lid FIG. 3 A installed by stretching over the lip on the rigidformed housing creating an assembled unit FIG. 3 D.

In its preferred embodiment, the assembled unit, FIG. 6, A could beplaced into a storage pouch and installed onto a belt or piece of gear.FIG. 6 B

In its referred embodiment, the invention would be comprised of a rigidhousing with a changeable shaped insert that is or can be configured toaccept small components such as but not limited to batteries. Theinvention can also easily have shaped inserts whose interior cavitieswill be shaped to accept any small items that will fit into the interiorconfines of the housing. The rigid housing will be of a non conductivematerial such as but not limited to injection molded plastic. The shapedinsert will be of a material that provides a cushioning from impact. Theshaped insert will be of a non conductive material to separatecomponents and keep them apart from other components. The shaped insertcould be made from but not limited to a semi rigid foam or similarmaterial that can be cut or shaped. The flexible lid would have amating(s) surface to provide an attachment to the rigid housing by meansof stretching over and around the perimeter of the rigid housing FIG. 5Detail A and contain the shaped insert and components within the rigidhousing. The flexible lid could be made from but not limited to a rubbermaterial. The assembled unit can be used as is and placed into a storagedevice or pouch such as shown in FIG. 6 B.

1) A complete storage system that is comprised of a rigid formed housingwith an interchangeable and configurable matching shaped insert that canbe adapted and configured to safely store small items of differing orsimilar shapes and sizes, such as but not limited to batteries, and whensaid housing and insert is closed using a flexible lid, becomes a shockresisting, sound deadening, water resistant, and protective device forseparating and storing above said small items and the assembled unit canbe placed into a pouch and attached to a belt or other desired gear. 2)A storage system that is comprised of a rigid housing in claim 1 thatwill maintain its relative shape and offer impact resistance and nonconductive electrical properties. 3) A storage system that is comprisedof a rigid housing in claim 1 that by design will accept a correspondingshaped insert. 4) A storage system in claim 1 that has a shaped insertwhose exterior shape will closely fit the interior perimeter walls ofthe housing in claim
 1. 5) A storage system in claim 1 that has a shapedinsert that can have its interior cavities designed and shaped to acceptthe outside shapes of the desired small items to be stored. 6) A storagesystem in claim 1 that has the ability to insert and remove shapedinserts with differently shaped interior cavities determined by theexterior shape of the small items to be stored, into the rigid housingin claim
 1. 7) A storage system in claim 1 that has a blank shapedinsert that the end user can configure the interior cavities to theshape of the desired exterior shape of the small parts to be stored. 8)A storage system in claim 1 that has a shaped insert that will separateitems into a predetermined and predictable location. 9) A storage systemin claim 1 that will provide sound deadening properties for the itemsbeing stored in the shaped insert, by virtue of positive retention ofthe items in the insert and the items not being loose in the insert. 10)A storage system in claim 1 that has a flexible lid that can bestretched over the rigid housing to form a sealing function to keep thesmall parts being stored in their proper location inside the shapedhousing cavities. 11) A storage system in claim 1 that has a flexiblelid that can be stretched over the rigid housing to provide moisture anddirt resistance for the shaped insert and the small components beingstored inside the formed housing. 12) A storage system in claim 1 thathas a flexible lid that can be stretched over the rigid housing toprovide cushioning and sound deadening properties if the small itemswould happen to contact the flexible lid. 13) A storage system in claim1 that has a pouch that will house an assembled unit described in claim1 and can be attached to a belt or other gear.